"They are so damn 'intellectual' and rotten that I can't stand them anymore. ... I (would) rather sit on the floor in the market of Toluca and sell tortillas, than have anything to do with those 'artistic' bitches of Paris"
—Frida Kahlo on Andre Breton and the European surrealists.

In this six-part series of videos by UA School of Journalism Blair Kurland, Old Time Artisans resident storyteller Eddie Gallego recounts spooky tales of unearthly happenings at the old downtown shop.

The Stake in the Desk

Here's a short piece by Blair Kurland.

From a rich past comes a haunting present—or at least that’s what the shopkeepers tell me. The structure that is now Old Town Artisans has passed through many hands since its historic beginnings as a Spanish fort. Now it's an artisan’s marketplace.

Different sources remember the history differently. One fact remains irrefutable though; the building was once part of a Spanish fort called El Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, and it was built in 1775. The Tucson Tourism Update, a quarterly newsletter, says the adobe structure that remains today was built in 1850.

In 1888 the land fell into the hands of liquor salesman Julius Goldbaum, who used it for

The latest from Live Theatre Workshop's Etcetera series, Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle, opens tomorrow night, Thursday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. theater.

This show features the LTW's best. First, it's directed by Kristi Loera, LTW's executive director, and the cast includes City High School student Lucille Petty (who was absolutely amazing in company's production of Picnic), and other LTW favorites: Stephen Frankenfield, Michael Martinez, Richard Gremel, Shanna Brock, Michele Loera, Christopher Johnson, Amanda Gremel and Danielle Dryer. The play continues through July 17, on Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call 327-4242 for reservations.

Here's a bit on the play:

Lucy, a four year-old girl with an extremely overactive imagination, has produced her first imaginary friend - Mr. Marmalade. Unfortunately, Lucy's hectic and abusive home life is reflected in her creation, resulting in an invisible companion with a cocaine addiction and a severe problem with leaf-blowers and pornography. With the help of her friend Larry (the youngest suicide attempt in the history of New Jersey) Lucy sets out to divorce Mr. Marmalade as her imagination becomes more and more violent, desperate and adult. A smart and funny black comedy about navigating childhood in these bizarre and difficult times.

Sounds like a late-night treat.

Glass-blowing instructor Jason Marstall of Sonoran Glass Academy talks about his personal experience and history with blown glass. In this multimedia story by UA journalism student Jeff Kessler, Marstall talks explains how he got to Sonoran Glass Academy, and the activities and other offerings they have for Tucson.

In this multimedia project by UA School of Journalism students R.J. Young, Raymond Slusarczyk and Nicole O'Shea, La Placita Village, located in Downtown Tucson, takes center stage as a place of vibrant colors in the Old Pueblo.

Amateur Motocross rider Cody Briner talks about the path he's taken to get to where he is now in this audio slideshow by Joshua Morgan.

• Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali, 1978, one of four screenprints on Bristol Strathmore paper (c) 2009 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts/Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York The name, image, and likeness of Muhammad Ali appears courtesy of Muhammad Ali Enterprises, LLC. Bank of America Collection

Eric Firestone may have had to shut down that swank gallery he was running on North Sixth Avenue (and if you missed any of those openings, you missed out more than just a mechanical riding bull and great hot dogs from Guero Cañelo). But it looks like he's doing OK out in the Hamptons with that Dylan show he debuted here. From the New York Post:

The sleepy East Hampton art scene will get a major jolt tomorrow when Eric Firestone opens his gallery with "Warhol, From Dylan to Duchamp," featuring 150 behind-the-scenes photos of Warhol at work. The real showstoppers are two dozen never-before-seen shots of Andy in a 10-gallon hat filming his 1968 wild, gay Western, "Lonesome Cowboys," in the Arizona desert. Expected at the opening are Warhol superstars Taylor Mead, Viva and Jane Holzer, Lou Reed, fashion designer Betsey Johnson, plus lensmen Michael Halsband, Anton Perich and Patrick McMullan. Who won't be there? Director and one-time Warhol collaborator Paul Morrissey, who, when invited, groused, "Andy never shot anything, I did it all. He just stood around the camera and posed." Septuagenarian Sylvia Miles, who went to so many parties in the 1970s it was said she'd attend the opening of an envelope, demanded to be paid to show up. Sylvia, don't you know we're in a recession?

By the way, you're running out of time to see the great Warhol show at the Tucson Museum of Art. Details here.

In this multimedia project by UA journalism student Kellie Mejdrich, we are introduced to the owners of popular campus eatery Saigon Pho. Owners Son Thu Tran and her husband Quan Chu celebrate the two-year anniversary of the restaurant this month.

This week, Charlie De Mar, a UA journalism student, introduces us to golf instructor Mark Terry. Terry has been a golf instructor for more than 20 years, and takes pride in helping people improve their performance. He spends his winters in Tucson, while traveling to Northern California for the summer. Terry said he enjoys teaching a golf class at the UA.